2007年VOA标准英语-US Seeking Full Disclosure of North Korean Enri

By Daniel Schearf
Beijing
16 March 2007

The United States' chief negotiator on North Korea's nuclear programs has said Pyongyang needs to be open about its enriched uranium activities in order for an agreement on denuclearization to move forward. But, as Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing, the issue could prove a sticking point, as North Korea has never publicly admitted to having such a program.

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US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill speaks to reporters in Beijing, 16 Mar 2007

The U.S. envoy² to talks on North Korea's nuclear programs, Christopher Hill, told reporters Friday he aims to seek an explanation from North Korea on its uranium enrichment program.

In an agreement reached in February the North would receive aid and improved diplomatic ties if it declared its nuclear facilities and shut down its main Yongbyon nuclear reactor³.

Hill said this means that North Korea must provide an explanation of the alleged⁴ uranium enrichment program.

"This is an issue that must be addressed and must be resolved because we can't have a complete declaration unless there's been a complete understanding of the highly enriched uranium issue," he said.

The U.S. first accused Pyongyang of having a secret highly enriched uranium program in 2002. That prompted North Korea to kick nuclear inspectors⁵ out of the country, withdraw from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and restart its plutonium reactor.

That reactor provided the nuclear material for North Korea's first successful nuclear test in October. The U.S. fears Pyongyang may be hiding a highly enriched uranium program, although the North denies it.

Hill said he would be discussing the alleged enriched uranium program with North Korea's chief negotiator Kim Kye-Kwan when they meet on Saturday in Beijing for a working group on denuclearizing the North.

Hill said they would also discuss the U.S. Treasury's decision this week to ban U.S. banks from doing business with a Macau bank, Banco Delta⁶ Asia. Washington says this bank helped Pyongyang launder⁷ money and deal in counterfeit⁸ currency and cigarettes.

Banco Delta Asia's chairman, Stanley Au, on Friday denied intentionally⁹ helping¹⁰ Pyongyang with any illegal activity.

South Korea said Friday it would resume shipments of fertilizer aid to North Korea later this month, after a gap of almost a year in response to a North Korean missile test.

The various steps - in Washington, South Korea and Beijing - are all a prelude¹¹ to the sixth round of six-nation talks to begin Monday in Beijing, which include North Korea, Japan, and Russia.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

3 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

4 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

5 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

7 launder   

v.洗涤；洗黑钱（把来路可疑的钱弄得似乎合法）

参考例句：

• She wore a freshly laundered and starched white shirt.她穿一件刚刚浆洗熨烫过的白色衬衣。
• The gang launders the steal money through their chain of restaurants.这帮匪徒通过他们的连锁饭店洗赃款。

8 counterfeit   

vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的

参考例句：

• It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
• The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远，实际是最近的一幅赝品。

9 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 prelude   

n.序言，前兆，序曲

参考例句：

• The prelude to the musical composition is very long.这首乐曲的序曲很长。
• The German invasion of Poland was a prelude to World War II.德国入侵波兰是第二次世界大战的序幕。